4.04.2011

2011 Wish List

My last post was really 'catching up' on a few 'wish list' items from the past year. This post is more focused on new releases. Its also a wish list assuming I had relatively unlimited funds! Hopefully a few of these are on your lists as well or, maybe better, this is a list which might even have some new item you weren't aware of!

One of the pleasant surprises in the past several years (which I also mentioned in my last post) was the entrance into N Gauge of 'newcomers' to the scale...surely a really positive sign for the health of the scale! A.C.M.E. is another one of those. They have announced production of this somewhat unusual and intriguing looking trainset for both Swiss and Italian prototypes. Although this was apparantly announced for 2010, so perhaps it belongs on my last list.... Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.

This is a tough looking electric from the folks at Siemens! I like the looks-and I like Lemke/Hobbytrain's typical quality/price! Not so sure I'm that thrilled about any of the three paint schemes its coming out it currently. I may wait until a real paint scheme is produced.

Mabar is another smaller producer filling niche's ignored by the big companies. The 'blue version' of this locomotive was recently released and looks stunning! So why do I want a certainly more conventional green 'Fret' version? A photo I recently saw of the model in this scheme looked just as stunning....and its a paint scheme I don't have yet!

Yet another locomotive from Piko in SNCF colors! Thanks Piko! Finally it looks like a locomotive in the livery of Ile de France (now all I need are some of those double-deck coaches to go behind it (VB2N?)!).

Rocky Rail has apparently worked out a deal to have Mehano produce this modern French locomotive (something I believe I read somewhere but can't find the source for...sorry!. That is convenient for me because I like the sleek yet strong looking lines on this engine! There are similar diesel versions of this locomotive - apparently over 1700 have been produced and are used worldside. The locomotive is made by Alstom, EMD, and Vossloh. American modelers will note that this locomotive is in the same family as New Jersey Transit's PL42AC diesels.

I have to say, I kind of have a liking for colorful, modern DMU's, and Japan has quite a few of them. I also kind of like the whole 'cab over' ends that are quite popular in Japan (and are the distinctive look of the NS Koplopers).Photo courtesy Wikipedia.Kato/Lemke M6 Duwag Tram

Even more trams from Kato! As I've still to get the older versions of the Duwag tram I mentioned in my last post, I shouldn't be including these much more modern version, but what can I say? There's something really appealing about trams. The fact that these are relatively modern, but not too modern, means they could easily fit in any 1970's to present urban landscape....

This class of electric locomotives seem to be everywhere these days, but Swedish locomotives in N Scale? Not so much! This one is going to be tough on the wallet...so unless I'm really lucky this year, or Santa is feeling really generous, its hard to see my shelling out this much for a locomotive right now (yeah, and the USD to Euro exchange rate is not helping a whole lot!). However, it does come equipped with DCC and SOUND! Some of the newer private roads in Europe have liveries that are, well, let's just say it makes the old state-sponsored paint schemes look attractive! This paint scheme is interesting. Very bold and strong in my view, even more so with the lines of the engine. I'm liking it!

Minitrix Class 150 Z
This is a 'wait and see' since I have to 'wait and see' what the model ultimately will look like. From photos of real prototypes, and HO models (ugh!), there are some great looking steam engines from the SNCF (and some great ones in brass as well, but those are well outside of my price range!). Minitrix also has some nice goods wagons/freight cars in its catalog this year, beyond that, I don't see a lot from them this year.

There is also some rumor that Star Train may release a large French locomotive of the 141 R, but I couldn't find any information other than a mention on a forum.

A bit more realistically (from a budget perspective) are some of the new truck releases from Herpa.

Not just trucks, but these little coupe's look pretty spiffy as well:

Photos courtesy Herpa.

If your looking for things in more of an agricultural line, the company Mo-Miniatur Modelbahn makes a nice assortment of farming tractors and the like. Of course, if you've seen my layout well, you'll understand why they wouldn't quite fit on Quinntopia!

Always something interesting to add to the layout...I sort of like this truck with trailer for some reason.

Photos courtesy of Lemkecollection.

TomyTec Car Collection Vol 14
Can you ever have enough cars? Well, maybe. Its hard for me to pass up on TomyTec's cars. In terms of price and quality they are hands down the best in N scale (well, the 1:150 kind anyway, which is hard sometimes to tell the difference with anyway).

I think that's about it. I expect there were quite a few things that I missed that I'll kick myself for not adding to this list. I'm in 'wait and see' mode for the new yellow and gray Star Train Class 1300, and I can't afford the current versions of the SNCF BB 12003, and I'm tempted to get an older model of the FS E.424 (Italian railways) but there is only so much time...and money of course. But its fun to look, right? I hope you enjoyed taking a look at a few of the things on my wish list this year. Next post...back to layout updates!

7 comments:

I rode that Italian train a few times last year, in first class... OUTSTANDING!! I'd love one in N scale.

Highly recommended for any railfan. The amount of tunneled kilometres between Venice and Rome was remarkable. And I'd say it's 90-95% separated from the other lines. So these things really open up. Something that wouldn't even be contemplated here in the states.

Interestingly enough, Italian stations are somewhat underwhelming except for Milan. Venice station: NOT ONE PLACE TO SIT... I guess they want you there 2 minutes before boarding. Although I was killing plenty of time roaming up and down every platform taking pictures ;)

Nittany4 - Lucky you! These Italian trains don't get nearly as much press as the TGV's, ICE's, or even the AVE! Interesting comment about the number of tunnels! That must've been quite an expansive line to build! I do hope ACME ends up producing this train!

Your comment about Italian train stations is pretty funny...that would not have been what I expected!

How about adding a bit of Austria to your mix? The "nearly high speed" Railjet (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railjet) has IMHO a superb design, and original when you see the driving coach has been given the exact same design as the Taurus locomotive front end.

Will be released by Hobbytrain this year... (http://www.lemkecollection.de/shop/index.php?page=product&info=68). Even better, it will also be released by Fleischmann (http://www.fleischmann.de/produkteshop/spur-n-katalog-2011/english.html see page 36) with **sound**! (which is rare in N, until then only unsplittable double units included sound)

@Nittany4Several European countries have trains driving on the left (France for the most part, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium). The question is not "why are they on the left", but rather, why are the others now on the right. The left driving came from England, where we all know trains and cars drive left in harmony :-) Then some countries did choose right driving (probably for various reasons) just as they did for the cars.

There are many exceptions. For example in France & Belgium, subways are on the right (probably to avoid surprise with people expecting traffic coming from the left), and the entire eastern part of France that once belonged to Germany has right driving as in Germany.Depending on the traffic, the change of side (e.g. between France and Germany) is done while leaving the border station, or for heavy duty and high speed, a bridge allows seamless side-switching at the border.

I have ridden the AVE in Spain, and the Paris and Brussles metro and I remember those being on the right side to your point, but the rest I have just seen in pictures (or video that didn't stick in my head) and from a still, you really can't tell which way the train is going as they are all the same front and back!!

Might be interesting to follow some lines on Google Earth to see if any high-speed flyovers are in use at the borders to change running sides.

So The Eurostar runs left all the way from London to Paris and/or Brussels...

@nittany4Indeed, the French and the British don't have any driving side issue.As for bridges overpass at borders, I think they are pretty rare (obviously expensive). Looking at google is a good idea, I am pretty sure one was built for the new "East-TGV" line to Germany, I'll be checking.

About Me

I'm into N Scale to have fun. Growing up my Dad was really big into HO (U.S.A. of course, mostly Western U.S. roads like Great Northern, Milwaukee Road, Northern Pacific, etc...) and he built me a small N Scale layout which I enjoyed as a small boy. Of the various trains I had at the time, the brand 'Minitrix' stuck in my head. As the years passed, N Scale was forgotten as new interests took my time.
As a new parent, I got back into model trains through O Gauge (Lionel and MTH). However, the cost of this scale, and the space needed for the sort of layout I wanted, made it a very frustrating hobby. Then one day at a hobby shop in California, I came across the Trix 2003 catalog; Inside this catalog were beautiful models of trains across Europe shown on beautiful layouts - and I was converted! It took a few years, but most of the O Gauge was sold (or stored) and I used the funds to start my new fantasy in N Scale.
Soon, I also discovered the amazing trains of Japan in N Scale, and begin my quest to build an interesting urban layout in a complete fantasy setting where the great trains of the world can run side by side!